sign in sign up
<<
Home , Antje Duvekot, Black 47, Cara Dillon, Celtic punk, Enter the Haggis, Heidi Talbot

30 ICONS FESTIVAL

Tommy Fleming

WELCOMELooking for Irish Connections in TOAmerica? ICONSYou'll find enough ofFESTIVAL them at this year's ICONS Festival to fill almost 50 acres - and then some, writes Sean Smith. CONS, or Irish Connections (the name by which the 17-year- their own, very individual brands of rock and roll energy to the old festival has more recently been known), represents a bold festivities. And don't forget "Harpalooza," ICONS' salute to the Iand ambitious new course for the event, celebrating the cultural . directions of in its emergence as one of the most prosperous Sitting and listening to music is all very well, but at this gathering and influential countries in the world. So, once you walk through you are encouraged to get up and dance to it? You'll have the the gate at the festival site, the Irish Cultural Center of New opportunity to sample Irish and other Celtic social dancing in England in Canton, Mass, just South of ., and you'll two different fashions: with Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Boston's experience Ireland on a global scale. branch of the venerable worldwide organisation that for more Start with the music, long at the heart of the festival since its than five decades has preserved Irish music in Ireland, America inception: Performers in this year's line-up run the gamut from Cara Dillon rock to country to all matter of traditional influences, and can be enjoyed on a newly built, 8,000-capacity space inside the multi- tented festival grounds. There are rock and folk heavyweights such as The Black Crowes, the Saw Doctors, Nanci Griffith and the post-punk emerging superstars (most recently featured on the soundtrack to The Departed) Dropkick Murphy’s, as well as genuine Irish stars like Dervish, and Mick Moloney. How about Altan, Cara Dillon, and the Prodigals, the all-female, Appalachian revivalists , and German-American Antje Duvekot, whose acclaimed breakthrough was produced by Seamus Egan of Solas? ICONS also features a spectacular array of vocalists, representing a variety of genres from contemporary to traditional and all stops in between: Danny Doyle, Cara Dillon, Jimmy Crowley, Tommy Fleming, , The Roches, Dennis Brennan, Heidi Talbot, John Spillane and Niamh Parsons. Then, in keeping with the connections theme, there are the performers who take Irish and other Celtic-influenced traditions to their acoustic roots, and to exciting, innovative directions. and John Doyle, Kevin Burke, Matt and Shannon Heaton, Bruce Molsky, Cherish the Ladies, Paddy Keenan and Peter Molloy, The Maeve Gilchrist Trio, Nightingale, the Marie and Martin Reilly Quartet, Johnny B. Connolly and Beoga. One of Irish music's greatest "ambassadors," Tommy Makem, will be honoured with a special tribute hosted by Mick Moloney and Danny Doyle. , , Enter the Haggis, The Guggenheim Grotto, Mr North, Baby Jenks and Tempest add ICONS FESTIVAL 31

Nanci Griffith and throughout the world; prompted the ICONS Festival to expand its commitment to and at the Boston Urban exploring the roots of one’s heritage. While a particular emphasis Ceilidh, which offers a is placed on Irish genealogy at this festival, the resources and modern-day, rocking twist wonderful volunteer staff of organizations like Tiara who are to the dance tradition. dedicated to assisting in genealogical research will include more The world of traditional generalized guidance to such efforts – irrespective of national dance, of course, has been origin. an intrinsic part of the The Irish language is one of the oldest and richest in the world Irish culture for literally and will receive particular attention at ICONS. Having survived thousands of years. In centuries of persecution and neglect it is now generating new recent times, the more levels of interest in the US. Still the vernacular of significant areas straight-laced, stylised of Ireland, the language is in a distinct state of renewal. At ICONS, dancing of the past has Gaelic will be celebrated in many forms, spoken word, sean-nos been invigorated by the singing and dancing. This will all occur in and around an authentic crossover creativity of replica of an Irish thatched cottage on the festival site. Broadway productions like Since pre-Christian times, sports have been a feature of Irish Riverdance and Lord of the life. The native games of hurling and Gaelic football have been Dance. The ICONS Festival will celebrate Irish Connections in symbols of a proud heritage of Ireland for generations. Today, dance in all its diverse glory. these games are played extensively in the and For example, there will be presentations on American women weekly seen at the Irish Cultural Center of . The in sean-nós ("old style") dancing, hosted and coordinated by American branch of the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) will Boston resident Kieran Jordan, a groundbreaking dancer, instructor stage highly competitive games of hurling and football played by and choreographer, who will be joined by Maldon Meehan, both men and women through the weekend. Explanations and Alicia Guinn and Shannon Dunne. Kieran and each of these exhibitions of the origins and currency of the games will also be special guests will teach and perform, accompanied by live on display. music, with a panel discussion and even opportunities for informal Tír na nÓg literally means "land of the young," and comes from performances by other sean-nós dancers and students. a wonderful Irish mythology about such a place. This part of Ireland has always had a one of the richest literary traditions in ICONS Festival activities will emphasise our younger visitors the world. Names like Yeats, Kavanagh, Joyce, O’Casey, Synge, with story-telling, musical performances, educational activities, Heaney, and Friel have become ICONS in the literary world. The puppets, and special characters. ICONS Festival will celebrate this rich and diverse literary tradition Rock-and-rollers, die-hard trad music buffs, festival veterans, with several presentations by authors themselves and reading first-timers, young, old, Irish, non-Irish, ICONS 2007 makes all programs at the festival. the connections. Among those appearing will be Peter Quinn, discussing his newly published collection of essays, Looking for Jimmy: A Sean Smith is an editor and writer at Boston College, Search for Irish America, which traces the life and times of New a part-time musician, singer and morris dancer, and works with York's Irish; and Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, several and dance organisations in Greater Boston, whose recent book Senior Season: A Father, A Son and High including the Boston Festival. School Baseball is a fond look at family, sports and growing up. His e-mail address is [email protected]. An amazing growth of interest in the area of genealogy has Altan 32 ICONS FESTIVAL

Uncle Earle

COUNTDOWNThe philosophy behind the new ICONS Festival TO is simple. TheICONS goal is to merge history 07 and modernism to make this a unique event based in Irish culture but extending to a much wider world, writes Steve Morse. his is a gathering, almost in an ancient sense, like a outside of Ireland, so it's great to see them take this to another gathering of the clans,'' says ICONS producer, Brian level.'' Fresh momentum has come from a new partnership “TO'Donovan. "But it's a gathering of artists and also between O'Donovan (who also hosts a Celtic radio show on musicians with the same level of respect paid to a singer from WGBH-FM), the Irish Cultural Centre, and national concert Minnesota as to one from . The same respect will be promoters Live Nation, which has helped enlist the Dropkicks, given to Nanci Griffith as to Altan and everyone else.'' Black Crowes, and Griffith. And more respect is being paid to ICONS itself, which has Black Crowes earned it with a quantum leap in talent this year. Lured to its 50- acre site at the Irish Cultural Centre of New England In Canton, just south of Boston, for a three-day celebration Aug. 10-12 are not just Griffith and Altan, but contemporary giants like the Black Crowes, Saw Doctors, and , plus traditional legends from Tommy Makem to Mick Moloney. "The line-up sounds great to me. It should be great fun!'' says Dervish singer Cathy Jordan, whose group recently represented Ireland in the Eurovision song contest. The ICONS fest, an outgrowth of the Irish Connections Festival is embracing modern times with a relish this season. A big coup is the booking of Dropkick Murphys, the Boston-based, world- renowned, punk-rock 'n' folk band that can't wait to play for the various clans. It may be the first time that comes to the event, but that's a rite of passage that many festivals, Irish-based or not, have dealt with. "We've done Irish festivals in other parts of the country, in Chicago and and this is a great opportunity for us to play to a different crowd that might not always come see us in a nightclub,'' says Ken Casey, bassist with the Dropkicks. "We're talking about the fathers of some of our fans, but also much younger teens and probably down to eight-year-olds, too. "There will be a wider variety of people than we're used to, but if Irish festivals are going to continue to strive to succeed, they need to bring in a younger crowd, with new blood. So that's what we hope to do,'' says Casey. "It's good to see Boston step up with this event. Boston probably has the largest concentration of Irish ICONS FESTIVAL 33

"We see this festival as having some legs,'' says Bob Duteau, mayor or an ambassador. Kieran Jordan Dancers vice-president of Live Nation's New England division. "It takes We want to be pro-active.'' place on a fabulous site – a nice green surrounded by woods – And, indeed, a street and there's not much land like this around Boston. I think this called O'Connell Street could grow into a big thing. I just got back from (mega-festival) will be formed with the Bonnaroo in Tennessee. I don't know if this will grow that big, vendors selling their waves but it definitely has room to expand.'' on either side of it and There will still be ample space for sporting events at the pipe bands marching festival (football and hurling) and stages for such carryovers as around. And there will traditional dancing, storytellers, authors, Cape Breton musicians even be Irish setters and (notably the Boston Kiltics), and harp players. The harp stage is Irish wolfhounds also on called "Harpapalooza'' and is being run by Regina Delaney of display. Nothing with the the New England Harp Orchestra. "I have an 80-year-old who roots in the Emerald Isle just started,'' she says. "You're never too old to play.'' will be lacking. For the first time, though, there will be a new, 8,000 capacity ICONS Festival has space for the headlining acts. The evolution of ICONS is apparent also joined 21st century in the hiring of new operations manager Steve Andriakos, who technology explosion by has worked on festivals in Austin, Tx. and for 12 years supervised pouring energy into its the second stage at Ozzfest, a heavy metal/ event Iconsfestival.com website, headed by Ozzy Osbourne. He recently moved to Maine and created with the youthful his crew will erect the same 40-by-40-foot stage that he used at Lumen Eclipse web design the nearby Tweeter Center for Ozzfest. "Really, we'll be playing group from Boston. All of the nearly 40 performing acts have on the same Ozzfest stage? That's wild,'' says Casey of the biographical links on the site, and many have three songs up on Dropkicks. There will be five or six music stages overall, says it so people can get a cyberspace sample before seeing them in Andriakos, who met recently with O'Donovan and 25 other person. "It's been an enormous undertaking,'' says ICONS organizers to address all of their stage needs. And while he assistant director Jeannie Smith. "But the more you can drive hopes that audiences will be standing and dancing, he's not traffic there and spread the word, it all helps.'' And ICONS also afraid of moshing if that happens. "We've learned to deal with has a large Myspace.com presence with videos included on that it,'' he says, speaking like a true industry pro. site. The line-up was solidified during the spring ("It's all set One of the more interesting dilemmas that O'Donovan has unless Christy Moore wants to come, we've invited him,'' faced is there are so many acts to see that fans will have to says O'Donovan), but many musicians still want to come and make some hard choices. "People say, 'How can you make us perform on a purely voluntary basis around the 50-acre grounds. choose between Nanci Griffith and Tommy Makem?' But, really, "The more musicians we have, the better. We want spontaneous that's a great conflict to have.'' activity,'' says O'Donovan. "We're emphasising volunteers this Steve Morse was a music critic at the Boston Globe for 30 year as an intrinsic part of the festival. What we are selling is the commitment of people to the Irish culture on display. It's as years and now is Critic At Large for WBOS-FM and a crucial as what's going on stage. "We're really creating a town web columnist for Iconsfestival.com here that people can come to,'' says O'Donovan. "Everyone is a He can be reached at [email protected]

Dropkick Murphys 34ICONSICONS FESTIVAL 2007

THEALTAN LINE-UPchampion, Eamon Murray and pianist, Liam Bradley, as well as www.altan.ie one of Ireland’s premier young singers in Niamh Dunne. The No Irish traditional band in the last dozen years has had a bedrock of Beoga’s music lies firmly within the Irish tradition, wider impact on audiences and music lovers throughout the but they are not afraid to incorporate other genres’ nuances into world than Altan. With their exquisitely produced award-winning their music. From bluesy riffs to Astor Piazzola-style , to a recordings, ranging dynamically from the most sensitive and raunchy New Orleans jamboree vibe, their music always returns touching old Irish songs all the way to hard hitting reels and , to a wonderfully bouncy traditional sound. and with their heartwarming, dynamic live performances, Altan have moved audiences from Donegal to Tokyo to Seattle. Throughout, the band (Mairead Ní Mhaonaigh, Ciaran Tourish, Dermot Byrne, Daithí Sproule and Ciaran Curran) has shown an unwavering commitment to bring the beauty of traditional music, particularly that of the Donegal fiddlers and singers, to the contemporary audiences in a way that brings out all its qualities and destroys none.

BLACK 47 www.black47.com Black 47 espouses an unblinkingly political and thoroughly Irish form of rock 'n' roll, with songs covering topics from the conflict to civil rights and urban unrest in BABY JENKS contemporary New York. Black 47 earned their chops playing www.myspace.com/babyjenksmusic the pub scene in Manhattan and self-producing their first indie Named after a character in Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, record, "Black 47," before converting The Cars' Ric Ocasek to Baby Jenks has been together since late 2003. Influenced by the the cause and gaining mainstream attention with their second big stadium sounds of , Coldplay and Radiohead, but with album.The band likes to play their music loud, and as Rolling their own musical aesthetic firmly to the fore, they played their Stone puts it, "with upraised fists and chunky guitar riffs… debut gig in legendary Dublin venue Mother Redcaps in spring declarations of gnashing street poetry punctuated with wailing of 2004. Over the following months, Baby Jenks honed their live uilleann pipes, Joe Strummer-style chord chops and Bourbon skills with a multitude of gigs. Their sparkling shows at the Irish Street sax sojourns." IMRO showcase, Boston’s NEMO Music Festival and also Castlepalooza earned them rave reviews. Baby Jenks have just THE BLACK CROWES recently spent time in the studio working on their debut album, www.blackcrowes.com scheduled for release this summer. From the beginning, when they roared out of the gate with their multi-platinum debut album "Shake Your Moneymaker" in 1990, BEOGA The Black Crowes have played by their own rules. They've gone www.beogamusic.com against the grain and formed an intimate connection with their Beoga is a five-piece traditional band based in County Antrim. audience, while maintaining their independence and creative The band was drawn together after jamming in a ferocious music freedom from standard industry practices. Brothers Chris and session at the All-Ireland Fleadh in August 2002. Their unique Rich Robinson, the band's founders and guiding spirits, have sound features the twin dueling of Seán Óg Graham never veered from their mission of creating rock and roll that is and Damian McKee, along with four-time All-Ireland bodhrán fierce and genuine, with a sound that doesn't conform to easy ICONS FESTIVAL 35 categorisation. You can hear it in the band's six studio , which have racked up worldwide album sales exceeding 19 million and in their panoramic, legendary live shows. The Black Crowes have shared the stage with Jimmy Page, , The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, AC/DC, The Who, Neil Young, The Grateful Dead and many other legendary artists. DENNIS BRENNAN www.dennisbrennan.com Boston has a music legacy that needs no introduction, and at the heart of the scene is Dennis Brennan. He's a cagey veteran who electrifies audiences with his ability to cross brilliantly from rock to soul, , country, and jazz, while breathing fresh life into each. On several nights a week, Brennan bops around New England clubs with a passion that is all too rare in today's when she astounded the Celtic music world by winning the homogenised music climate. Senior All-Ireland Championship, Liz and her have been KEVIN BURKE TRIO amazing audiences around the globe. Her recordings and also appearances on concert stages, television and radio, have www.kevinburke.com established Liz as one of traditional music's most sought after Kevin Burke is one of the most influential musicians to emerge performers. John first rose to prominence as a member of the from the revival of the last 30 years. His group Chanting House and then as co-founder of Solas, before inimitably silky, lyrical style was a cornerstone of the legendary pursuing a career as a soloist. The two discovered a dynamism Bothy Band, and he remains an active member of such Celtic and sympathy in their creative work together that now moves supergroups as Patrick Street and Celtic Fiddle Festival. Raised in from the studio to stages across the world. by parents from County Sligo, Burke has come to be associated with the elegant, ornamented Sligo style of playing. He has recorded with artists as diverse as , Arlo Guthrie, JOHNNY B. CONNOLLY www.myspace.com/thejohnnyconnollyband and Doug Dillard, and released a string of solo Johnny Connolly has generated a reputation as an exciting and recordings now considered classics. accomplished button accordionist of the highest order. Born and CARA raised in Dublin, Johnny has made his home in Portland, Oregon, www.cara-music.com for the last 10 years. He has toured extensively in the U.S., Japan Formed in 2003, Cara is a band rooted in Irish and Scottish and Europe and has performed and recorded with artists including traditional music, but with a twist. It’s founding members are the Chieftains and Kevin Burke. In 2001 Johnny recorded his from Germany. United in an ambition to create a new and debut CD “Bridgetown” which was released on the Green Linnet unique sound, Cara's musicians have all made a name for label. The Irish Herald called it "the most exciting solo debut themselves at home and abroad through their involvement in from an Irish artist in years. A must-have CD for all true lovers of various projects. But it's not just their music that makes Cara so Irish box playing." successful. There's the charming and witty performance of the two front women, Gudrun Walther and Sandra Steinort, singing songs and telling tales of jealous lovers, daring young women, water-spirits and other curiosities, and playing rousing jigs and reels with their talent bandmates Claus Steinort (, whistles, ), Jürgen Treyz (guitars) and Rolf Wagels (bodhran). DANNY DOYLE www.celticnationsworld.com In an impressive concert career spanning almost four decades, Danny Doyle has been bringing the , history and stories of Ireland to audiences around the world. He has a way of conjuring up the Irish island with songs and vivid tales. Somehow, after you've heard this quintessential Irishman, you can nearly taste the salt aroma of a West Clare gale and almost feel the mist falling on Dublin's Ha'penny Bridge. If Danny (in the words of the 19th century Belfast poet, Samuel Ferguson) is a folksinger JIMMY CROWLEY who aspires "to link his present with his country's past and live www.jimmycrowley.com anew in knowledge of his sires," then his songs and deep Jimmy Crowley is a living legend in Irish folk music. He comes affection for Ireland's dramatic history offer profound evidence from Cork, a city whose musical richness mirrors the city's diversity, that he indeed sings with "the spirit of his homeland flowing and a great traditional music and song heritage, as well as a through his veins." legacy from music-hall vaudeville and high art. Jimmy draws on all of these traditions to fashion his own unique performance LIZ CARROLL AND JOHN DOYLE style and repertoire. He is a consummate stage performer as well www.lizcarroll.com as a song writer, adding color to his songs by weaving stories Springing from the new traditionalist movement in Irish music, about Cork characters, maritime exploits and daily life into his the partnership between fiddler, Liz Carroll and guitarist and act, accompanying himself on , mandola and mouth singer John Doyle has proven to be one of the most exciting organ. His singing style is truly unique nobody hearing Jimmy developments in the folk and Celtic worlds. Since she was 18, could possibly mistake him for anyone else. 36 ICONS FESTIVAL

CHERISH THE LADIES www.cherishtheladies.com They have grown from a one-time concert concept to an Irish traditional music sensation, literally the most successful and sought-after Irish-American group in Celtic music. Organised by folklorist/musician, Mick Moloney, Cherish the Ladies began as a concert series featuring the brightest lights in Irish traditional music. Two decades later, the band (Joanie Madden, Mary Coogan, Heidi Talbot, Mirella Murray and Roisin Dillon) has proven themselves worthy of the many accolades they have received and in doing so have become one of the most engaging ensembles in the history of Irish music, offering their unique spectacular blend of virtuosi instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements and stunning step dancing. COMHALTAS CEOLTOIRÍ ÉIREANN CARA DILLON www.caradillon.co.uk www.cceboston.org Born in , Co. Derry, Cara demonstrated her striking An international organisation founded in Ireland in 1951 to vocal ability early on by winning the All-Ireland Traditional preserve traditional Irish music and culture and to make it Singing Trophy at the tender age of 14. She went on to perform available for people everywhere to enjoy its distinctive character, with the groups and Equation, the latter resulting in CCE has grown to have more than 400 branches worldwide. In a partnership with fellow bandmember . Since the Boston, the Hanafin-Cooley branch of CCE was formed in 1975 release of her self-titled debut album in 2001, she has earned a and has evolved to become one of the largest branches with an bevy of honours and accolades, including two BBC Radio 2 Folk enthusiastic and supportive membership of musicians, dancers, awards and the Irish Meteor Award for Best Female Singer. Her teachers and patrons who enjoy playing, dancing and listening most recent release, "After the Morning," has been voted the best to Ireland's music. CCE Boston is accomplishing its mission Celtic CD of 2006 by the Indie Acoustic Project in the US. through weekly classes in eight traditional musical instruments and in set/ceili dancing, the efforts of which are demonstrated DROPKICK MURPHYS and enjoyed at monthly ceilí seisiuns. All are welcome at weekly www.dropkickmurphys.com classes and monthly seisiuns, which feature Larry Reynolds and Formed in 1996, the Dropkick Murphys was originally just a the Boston Comhaltas Ceilí Band. bunch of Boston area buddies looking to play music for fun. They started playing in the basement of a friend's barbershop with the goal of blending the musical influences they had grown up with, , Irish folk, rock and hardcore, into one loud, raucous, chaotic, and often out of tune mix that they could call their own. When they found people liked it, the Dropkicks began to record and tour, not only in the US but Canada, Europe, Ireland, the UK, Scandinavia and Australia, and have become a Boston hallmark in the process. They aim to play music that creates "an all for one, one for all environment where everyone is encouraged to participate, sing along, and hopefully have a good time." For the Dropkick Murphys, band and audience are one and the same: "Our stage and our microphone are yours." ANTJE DUVEKOT www.antjeduvekot.com Fans of the Irish supergroup Solas have long been well aware of the talents of singer/songwriter, Antje Duvekot; the band has recorded three of her compositions, notably "Black Annis." But the German-born Antje, now a Boston resident, has impressed DERVISH plenty of listeners on her own, with a vocal style that is well- suited to her songs universal yet personal, often dark, always www.dervish.ie honest. Her recent CD, "Big Dream Boulevard" (produced by From the Great Wall of China to packed auditoriums in the Solas' Seamus Egan), has drawn rave reviews from around the Holy Land, and more recently as the first Irish band to perform world, and is helping introduce her to an ever-wider audience; at "Rock in Rio," in front of an estimated audience of 240,000 folk-pop star and fellow Bostonian , who sings on the people, Dervish has come a long way in its 17 years. Their album, calls her "the next great American singer-songwriter." colourful career has taken them to every corner of the globe and has seen them share centre stage with such names as James ENTER THE HAGGIS Brown, The Buena Vista Social Club, Oasis, Sting, REM, Beck www.enterthehaggis.com and many more. Concert performances by Dervish (Brian Mc There aren't many groups in North America who could lay Donagh, Liam Kelly, Tom Morrow, Shane Mitchell, Cathy Jordan claim to possibly 18 different genres of music, but Toronto's and Michael Holmes) are a myriad of tones and moods ranging Enter The Haggis is one of them. To engage this quintet is to from high energy tunes, played with fluidity and intuitiveness, to indulge rock, fusion, bluegrass, traditional Celtic fare, agitpop, beautifully measured songs, from charming lyrics of life and also folk, even Latin flavors, as evidenced by their recent CD "Soapbox love, to inspiring melodies that lift audiences from their seats. Heroes," which seems to channel everything from , ICONS FESTIVAL 37 Pogues, Midnight Oil and the Eagles, and on one track even MATT AND SHANNON HEATON throws in a Calexico-flavored horn section. The band's Celtic www.mattandshannonheaton.com influence remains palpably intact, which is likely the reason why Matt and Shannon Heaton pair original songs with traditional core fans have stayed so loyal over the past decade. Still, Enter Irish and guitar numbers. An unusual blend of material? The Haggis continues to break new ground with every offering, Sure. But a natural one for this Boston-based husband-and-wife and the power of the music is only made more significant by pair, who has retained trad music chops while becoming their socio-political conviction. involved in the rich Boston scene. Call it Irish Americana, or modern Celtic music, Matt and Shannon's shows TOMMY FLEMING feature stunning musicianship, an easy rapport with audiences, www.tommyfleming.net and a selection of music you won't hear anywhere else. Blessed with a voice that soars in every song, Tommy Fleming has proven to be one of the finest and most popular vocalists to HEIDI TALBOT emerge out of Ireland in many years. A native of County Sligo, www.heiditalbot.com Tommy burst into prominence with the popular group De Dannan, Heidi Talbot has a voice that people are always trying to pin going on to record his first solo album in 1996. He has been down. Alison Krauss, Kirsty MacColl, Norah Jones, Eddi Reader equally adept singing both traditional and contemporary material, and are just some of the names that often come up from “Danny Boy,” “Hard Times” and “Black is the Colour” to in comparison. But in truth, this Irish singer has a sound all her songs by Tom Waits and Dan Fogelberg, among others. own. Developed first in her Co. church choir and A highlight of his career was his 2004 "Voice of Hope" concert through busking stints in Ireland, her unique vocals now front in the Knock Basilica, released as both a CD and DVD and was one of the world’s premier Celtic ensembles, the all-star Cherish broadcast on PBS in 2005. Tommy was selected as the best Irish the Ladies (also performing at this year's festival). On her solo Male Singer in 2005 by Irish Music Magazine. CD, "Distant Future," weds her Irish roots to subtle elements of contemporary folk and Appalachian balladry.

PADDY KEENAN AND PETER MOLLOY www.paddykeenan.com NANCI GRIFFITH Paddy Keenan was born into a travelling family steeped in www.nancigriffith.com traditional music. His flowing, open-fingered style of playing can Whether performing her own poetically evocative material or be traced directly from the style of such great traveling pipers as the compositions of her influences, friends, and peers, Nanci Johnny Doran, as well as that of his own father and grandfather, Griffith possesses a powerful gift for inhabiting the songs she both of whom played in the same style. A founding member of sings, for communicating unspoken intimacy and heartache the legendary Bothy Band, Paddy has cultivated a highly through her tender voice and lilting, delicate phrasing. At the successful solo career, playing festivals and concerts all over the outset of a career that has now spanned nearly three decades, world and composing and arranging music for several film Griffith first emerged as a writer of startling depth and subtlety, projects. In 2002 Paddy was awarded Ireland’s TG4 Traditional crafting sparse uncluttered vignettes that revealed a wealth of Music Award (Gradam Cheoil) as Traditional Musician of the emotion in even the most humble of characters and settings. Year. As the son of Paddy's Bothy Band colleague Matt Molloy, With her gifts as a songwriter lending invaluable insight, Griffith Peter Molloy has his own familial connection to traditional has also grown into a formidable interpreter of other people's music, but has more than established himself as a top-flight songs, as demonstrated on such albums as the Grammy Award- performer, appearing on recordings with the Chieftans and Oisin winning "Other Voices, Other Rooms." McAuley. THE GUGGENHEIM GROTTO MAEVE GILCHRIST TRIO www.guggenheimgrotto.com www.maevegilchristmusic.com The Guggenheim Grotto is a Dublin-based three-piece band Born in Edinburgh to an Irish mother and Scottish father, Maeve whose heady mix of pop, folk and soaring melodies is both grew up surrounded by traditional music, and began playing moving and intelligent. In 2005, the trio (Kevin May, Mick Lynch piano at age 7 before taking up the clarsach (Celtic harp) a few and Shane Power) released their debut CD, "Waltzing Alone" a years later. During her teens, she became heavily involved in the love album, but one full of tragedy, wistful, earnest, heart-on- Scottish traditional music scene, but her interests also expanded your-sleeve. It speaks to the collective human soul through to include jazz and , and she eventually came to themes to which all can relate, and treasures the most unassuming Boston's Berklee College of Music. While at Berklee, she moments, painting them as some of the most beautiful in life. continued to add to her portfolio, working and recording with 38 ICONS FESTIVAL

the likes of Matt Glaser, Kathy Mattea and Martyn Bennet, among "Out of Ireland" and "The Irish in America: The Long Journey others, and performing in the US, Canada, Europe and the British Home." Through his various academic and research experiences, Isles. Her trio blends her Scottish roots and jazz influence with Mick is able to infuse his performances with a keen sense of Latin American rhythms to create a unique and multicultural history, humor and insight, as well as superb musical talent. sound. BRUCE MOLSKY TOMMY MAKEM www.brucemolsky.com www.makem.com Alone or with fellow musicians, with guitar, fiddle, or in Tommy Makem, son and heir of the legendary source singer hand, Bruce Molsky has been exploring traditional music from Sarah Makem, has been known for many years as the modern an astonishingly broad range of cultures over the past two day Bard of Armagh and is regarded around the world as "The decades, synthesizing them and refracting them through his own Godfather" of Irish music. Armed with his banjo, , evolving sensibilities to the point where the sources of his poetry, stagecraft and his magnificent baritone voice, Tommy has inspiration transform themselves into a sound that is uniquely been mesmerizing audiences for more than four decades. He his. While most identified with traditional American old-time has expanded and reshaped the boundaries of Irish culture, and music, Molsky’s influences range from the Appalachian soul of infused a pride in that culture in the Irish, and a quest for Tommy Jarrell to Delta blues; from the haunting modal strains of knowledge of that culture in countless others. Tommy has Irish music to the rhythmically nimble music of Eastern Europe. delighted thousands of audiences with his talents as singer, storyteller and actor, but it is as a songwriter that he will live MRNORTH forever: "The Rambles of Spring," "Farewell to Carlingford," www.mrnorthmusic.com "Gentle Annie," "The Winds Are Singing Freedom" and, of Formed in Dublin in the late 1990s, mrnorth is made up of two course, "Four Green Fields" have all become much-loved brothers (Emmett and Oisín O'Malley), a first cousin (Colin Smith) standards in the repertoire of folksingers around the world. and a next-door neighbor (Adrian Mordaunt), who started playing together when they were young teens. After making some noise MARIE AND MARTIN REILLY QUARTET on the Dublin scene with their brand of melodic, passionate www.onqueueartists.com rock, the band toured constantly and ended up in New York Fiddler Marie Reilly and her younger brother, accordionist City. The band has released three CDs, most recently "Fear and Martin Reilly, have been highly regarded players in New York Desire." City's Irish session scene for quite some time. Both have also recorded and toured with a number of different acts, including NIGHTINGALE several incarnations of Riverdance. In addition, Marie has been www.nightingalevt.org part of Cherish the Ladies for several years now, and Martin just Formed in 1993 by New England contra dance scene veterans recently broke the gender barrier for the musicians in that band Jeremiah McLane (, piano), Keith Murphy (voice, when he joined as well. This past year, the two siblings recorded guitar, , piano, foot percussion), and Becky Tracy their first album as a duo. Self-titled, self-produced, and issued (fiddle), Nightingale took its name from the poetic figure that on Marie and Martin's own label, this collection of 13 instrumental appears in traditional songs from many parts of the world, an tunes has a warm, homemade feel to it, which, for Irish traditional appropriate emblem for a band committed to drawing inspiration music, is a very good thing, especially when the quality of the from a wide musical territory that includes Ireland, France, playing is as high as it is here. Scandinavia, Newfoundland and . From its inception, Nightingale explored music outside the bounds of New England contra dance and has broken new ground in its arrangement of traditional music and songs. NIAMH PARSONS www.niamhparsons.com As a young girl growing up in Dublin, Niamh was often taken by her music-loving parents to a local , where she was exposed to the songs and singing of The Johnstons, Emmet Spiceland, Sweeney's Men, Dolly McMahon and Danny Doyle and other celebrated performers. Now, she herself has come to be known as one of the most distinctive voices in Irish music, drawing comparisons to such venerated singers as , June Tabor and Sandy Denny. With six studio albums and one live album to her credit, Niamh has drawn praise for a singing style described as emotionally haunting and with a tone as clear as crystal. For the last seven years, Niamh has been MICK MOLONEY playing in a duet with Ennis-based Graham Dunne, their www.mickmoloney.com spiritual bond helping to draw out the essence of the songs. A highly respected musician who has recorded and produced more than 40 albums, Mick Moloney also has an impressive THE PRODIGALS track record as a folklorist and author. The author of Far From www.prodigals.com the Shamrock Shore: The Story of Irish American History The Prodigals are one of the most successful bands to emerge Through Song, Mick holds a Ph.D. in folklore and folklife from from the East Coast Irish scene. The band members (Gregory the University of Pennsylvania and currently teaches in New Grene, Eamon O'Tuama, Ed Kollar and Dustin Rohrer) grew up York University's Irish Studies program. Additionally, Mick has largely in Ireland; their original songs blend a funky and anarchic been involved in several television projects, including the Irish energy that is pure New York with a genuine passion for the TV special "Bringing It All Back Home" and the PBS programs traditional . They have played throughout the ICONS FESTIVAL 39

United States, from Los Angeles and Las Vegas to Chicago, Boston rooted British folk sensibility with a life-long rock experience. Cuban- and Maine, as well as abroad in Canada, Germany and Ireland, born drummer Adolfo Lazo, an original Tempest member, colors but they remain firmly rooted in Manhattan. the band’s sound with inventive percussion. EDDI READER THE TOSSERS www.eddireader.co.uk www.myspace.com/thetossers Scots native Eddi Reader’s rare blend of meltingly true vocals Chicago's precursor to LA's and Boston's and towering romanticism combine with an astute and pragmatic Dropkick Murphys, The Tossers are the perfect Irish hybrid. nature to make her a unique and powerful figure in contemporary Influenced by Shane Macgowan and in more than a British music. She has effortlessly developed into one of popular few ways, The Tossers play their own brand of Irish music loaded music’s most thrilling and affecting performers. Eddi will be with attitude and alcohol. Celtic-punk, traditional in nature but performing songs from her highly acclaimed 2007 release steeped in politics and punk rock, The Tossers run the gamut “Peacetime”, with her band Alan Kelly, John McCusker, and from croon to crass. longstanding collaborator . TROUZ BRAS THE ROCHES www.trouzbras.com www.roches.com Trouz Bras (pronounced "True Brazz") means "great sound" in The Roches are Maggie, Terre and Suzzy, three sisters who live the Celtic language of Brittany, the ancient country that now in . Together they have created 15 recordings in finds itself in the northwestern region of France. It also translates various configurations. Whether as a trio, duo or solo, each as "big noise," a reference to the loud Breton that fuel recording is as distinct as a snowflake. They have defied definition, the band's driving sound. Catapulting traditional Breton dance and most accurately their music can be called "Roche" music, as tunes into the 21st century, Trouz Bras combines swirling demonstrated in their distinctive arrangement of "The Hallelujah bagpipes and soaring fiddle with a rocking rhythm section. The Chorus," which they performed on "Saturday Night Live." band is led by bagpiper and vocalist Ray Price; Mance Grady They've appeared in venues ranging from their own sold-out plays percussion; Barry Hall plays fiddle, vielle and bouzouki; show at Carnegie Hall to the concert halls of Europe and the Brian Rost plays bass; Eric Peterson plays Middle Eastern- street corners of New York City and have on "The Tonight Show" influenced percussion; and Sharynne plays woodwind and and "The David Letterman Show." stringed instruments. THE SAW DOCTORS UNCLE EARL www.sawdoctors.com www.uncleearl.net During the past 12 months, The Saw Doctors have toured non- Call it old-time for our times: With their infectious energy, stop in Europe, USA, the UK and Ireland, promoting their new undeniable charisma, sharp musicianship, and unique repertoire CD "The Cure" while adding to their reputation as a great live of original and traditional songs, Uncle Earl (Kristin Andreassen, band. Now in their 19th year, the Galway-based group revolve , KC Groves and ) is bringing the around the writing partnership of vocalist Davy Carton and string band legacy proudly into the modern era. The band's guitarist Leo Moran, whose songs often draw upon youthful national debut album, "She Waits for Night," is that rare project memories some painful, some wistful, some pleasant and also that is enriched by tradition but never enslaved by it, at once depict ordinary lives in difficult times; it's music born of "cynical defiantly old-fashioned and defiantly contemporary. Theirs is a optimists," as Davy himself once described it. sound that bridges gaps, and steady touring over the past two years has found the band appealing equally to folk, old-time, alt- JOHN SPILLANE country, bluegrass, jam band, and pop audiences. www.johnspillane.com John Spillane is a native of Cork, which he lovingly describes “as the center of the universe”, and it has been a huge influence on this singer-songwriter. Among his many accomplishments, John won the Irish Meteor award for “Best Folk/Trad Act” twice. His music has been recorded by many legendary artists, including Christy Moore, , Pauline Scanlon, Méav, Cathie Ryan and Sharon Shannon. John also wrote and recorded the soundtrack for “The Boy Who Had No Story." Whether performing around the world, completing commissions for music for national dance companies, or broadcasting as the deejay of his own radio show in Ireland, it can safely be said that John has done just about a little bit of this and that. BOSTON URBAN CEILIDH www.myspace.com/bostonurbanceilidh TEMPEST It's difficult to keep still when you listen to Celtic music and at www.tempestmusic.com the Boston Urban Ceilidh, where the music is set to a solid rock- Since forming in 1988, Tempest has delivered a globally n-roll beat, trying to stay in your seat is nearly impossible. The renowned hybrid of high-energy fusing Irish reels, "BUC," which features some of Boston's premier Celtic musicians, Scottish ballads, Norwegian influences and other world music pearheaded by fiddler Laura Cortese, playing high-energy dance elements. Hailing from Oslo, Norway, founding member and music of Ireland, and Cape Breton (Canada), is built on lead singer/electric mandolinist Lief Sorbye is recognised as a audience participation. "Ceilidh" (pronounced "kay-lee") is an old driving force in the modern folk-rock movement, while fiddler, Gaelic word that refers to a user-friendly social dance party, with Michael Mullen is a constant fan favourite. Bassist, Damien emphasis on "user-friendly." Think "contra dance meets mosh Gonzalez, a native Californian, is also an accomplished drummer pit", centuries-old dance traditions in a contemporary style, and didgeridoo player who may occasionally breathe fire, and where the idea is just to get out there on the floor and move with English native and guitarist James Crocker combines a deep- the music.